Telegraphic transmitting-instrum ent



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. G. BURKE. TELEGRAPHIG TRANSMITTING INSTRUMENT. No. 460,109. PatentedSept. 29, 1891.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. G. G. BURKE. TELEGRAPHIG TRANSMITTING INSTRUMENT.

No. 460,109. Patented Sept. 29,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' CHARLES G. BURKE, OF RICHMOND I'lILL, NEIV YORK.

TELEGRAPHIC TRANSMITTING-INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,109, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application filed June 1'7, 1890- Serial No. 355,731. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond Hill, in the county of Queens and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TelegraphicTrans mitting-Instruments, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part ofthe same.

In the practical operation of submarinetelegraph cables of large staticcapacity it is found that the clearness of the signals and speed ofsignaling are very materially affected by certain conditions of thecurrent employed, its potential, the duration of the contact be tweenbattery and line in transmission, and the mutual relations of reversepolarities, both as to the frequency of succession and relativestrength. In the above respects every cable involves differentrequirements and presents conditions that mustbe fully and perfectly metin order to receive the best results. In the present methods oftransmission and in those heretofore followed in operating such cables,impulses of the same polarity following in immediate succession withsimply the earthing of the cable at the end of each impulse, producesignals having no definition of the beats or impulses, so that thenumber of such impulses is only recognized by the Wave or rise ofpotential, and whether there be used as a receiving-instrument a mirrorgalvanometer or a siphon recorder the receiving-operator must possessand exercise no little skill to determine the record with accuracy.

The object of the present invention is to give to the transmittingoperator perfect control over the length of actual contact for eachimpulse, so that the characterof the impulses may be varied to best meetthe static conditions of a given cable, and, furthermore, to enable himto vary the potential and relative periods of contact between reversepolarities, whereby the elements of the signals may be more clearlydefined, whether they consist of the same polarityor are made up ofimpulses of direct and reverse currents. With this object I haveinvented an instrument for the purposes of controlling automatically inan electric circuit the electric energy employed by regulating andlimiting through its contacts and adjustment the actual contact durationof successive impulses irrespective of the speed of which such impulsesare made, and independently of each other when such impulses are ofalternating polarity. This may be effected in a variety of ways; but Ihave devised especially for this purpose an apparatus comprising a wheelor wheels or any equivalent circular frame having on its peripherycontacts varying in extent as to the surface presented by them in themanner herein set forth. This wheel or wheels is rotated by a motor atthe required speed, and conducting-strips adjustable in the direction ofthe axis of the Wheel are designed to bear upon the contact. Suitableprovision is made for establishing and maintaining the proper electricalconnections. The contact points or plates, as Well as the metalframe-work of the wheel or wheels, are connected with the line or cable,and when at rest and in their normal position they are not in contactwith either pole of the battery, but in direct connection with earth,grounding the cable. Provision is also made by thedisposition of thecontacts and the electrical connections that in the movement of thewheel or wheels the contacts are brought alternately into engagementwith the strips which form the battery-terminals, so as to producealternations of polarity on the line or cable; but it is notmaterialthatsuch alternate contacts shall be equidistant, for it isdesigned that the wheel or wheels may be stopped at a point between anytwo of such reversals, so that at the will of the operator the reversecontact may be withheld from the line for any desired period of time. Bythis arrangement the static capacity of the cable itself, in lieu of thebattery-contact, may be utilized for prolonging any signals or part ofsignals in which it may be desired to manifest a difference of durationfrom some other; but every complete operation or action of the wheelcarrying the contacts insures the transmission of one impulse of a givenpolarity and one impulse of a polarity the reverse of the one whichpreceded it. In practice I drive the wheel or frame that carries thecontacts by a frictional connection with the driving-m otor, whereby thesaid wheel may be readily stopped or carried around when released, forthe purpose of making a signal. The wheel is preferably held in itsnormal position by an escapement and a locking and releasing lever,

which latter may be operated by hand or by an electro-magnet, a battery,and key. One set or series of the detents of the escapement arepreferably insulated from the contact-carrying frame and alternate withthe others, which are in metallic contact with said frame and serve toconnect theline to earth through the locking and releasing leverwhenever the wheel or frame is in its normal position of rest.

This apparatus and the manner of using or operating the same areillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus which embodies myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of the device. Fig. l is a diagram illustrating the electricalconnections and circuits used in operating the invention.

A is a metal base from which rise standards supportinga metal plate A. Avertical spindle B is mounted between the plate A and base A. A disk orsleeve'C surrounds the spindle B near its lower end and is securedthereto by a pin working in avertical slot 6 in said spindle so that thesleeve turns with the spindle, but has a limited movement thereon in thedirection of its length. Beneath the sleeve 0 is a spiral spring D,surrounding the spindle and adjustable by means of a nut d. Mountedloosely on the spindle, with its hub resting on the sleeve 0, is thewheel or circular frame 0, that carries the contactplates, hereinafterdescribed. Above this is a sleeve A, forming the hub of a gear-wheel P,that meshes with a pinion B on the shaft of an armature E of somesuitable form of motor, of which the magnets are designated by E.

The hub or sleeve A is fixed to the spindle B, and the motor thereforerotates said spindle. The frame or wheel 0, being held in frictionalconnectionwith the spindle between the two sleeves A and C, turns withsaid spindle when not locked.

011 the periphery of the wheel or frame 0 are secured two series ofcontact-plates D and E. These plates are straight along one edge, whichis parallel to the axis of the wheel, but inclined from their bases,which are at the middle line of the peripheral surface, to points attheir ends, and are placed alternately that is, the plates of one seriesopposite the spaces between those of the other series. A contact-strip Fbears upon the lower series of contacts E. This strip is carried by ametal block sliding between vertical guides M M and adjustablevertically by means of a screw N, turned by a head N. A contact-strip Gis similarly mounted with capability of vertical adjustment and bearsupon the upper series of contacts D. The duration of contact thenbetween the strips F G and the plates E D, respectively, when the wheel0 is turned, will depend upon the relative adjustment of the strips F G.

In the upper head 0 of the wheel or frame plates.

0 are set as many pins J K as there are con tact-plates D E. The pins Jare set nearer the edge of the head than the pins K and are insulatedfrom the wheel, while the others are not. The two series of pinsalternate also in position.

To a bracket or arm B is pivoted an armature-lever, II acted upon by anelectro-magnet G, and a spring J,secured to an ad j usting-screw C andhaving a determined movement or play. Its end is formed or provided witha lug or projection J, that by the movement of the lever H from oneextreme posi tion to the other is brought alternately into engagementwith the teeth or detents J and K.

The magnet G is in a circuit including a battery G and a key II, and itis normally inactive. The spring J therefore draws over the lever H andkeeps itin engagement with one of the teeth of the series marked K. hena signal is not being sent, it will thus be seen the wheel or frame 0remains stationary, though the motor and spindle B may be revolving.

Referring now to Fig. l for an explanation of the working of thisdevice, one pole of a divided battery F is connected to one of thecontact-strips, as G. The other is connected to strip F, and the centeris grounded at H. To the metal frame of the apparatus, which is inelectrical connection with the plates D E, the line L is permanentlyconnected. A ground connection through the lever Ill and conductor Ffrom the line is maintained by the engagement of the lever ll with oneof the pins K. At this time the strips G F are out of contact with theirrespective series of If the key H is depressed, however, to send animpulse, the lever II is carried from engagement with one of the pins Kover into engagement with the next pin J; but in the movement of thewheel 0, which occurs in the interval, one of the plates D has beencarried by the strip G and a positive impulse sent to line. The reversemovement of the key H and of the lever ll then permits the wheel 0 tomove another step until it is arrested by the engagement of the stop Jwith the next succeeding pin, which is one of the series K. Thus bydepressing and raising the key H a direct or marking impulse and areverse or clearing current are sent to line and the line is thengrounded; but the duration of contact which sends the direct impulse andthat which sends the reverse or clearing one is determined entirelyindependently of the key H by the adjustment of the contact-strips E F.For more ready comprehension a double series of contacts, alternating intheir relative positions, has been shown; but it will be obvious thatsince both series of contacts have a common function-that of connectingthe battery to lineonly one series is necessary, for by placing theconnecting strips or springs one before and the other behind the widestpart of the contacts a sequence of alternations of polarity will beproduced by the revolution IIO of the contacts. These featuresconstitute a valuable and important improvement in the art ofcontrolling impulses in an electric circuit, and particularly so incable signaling.

It is to be observed that the particular configuration of thecontact-plates D and E, which is distinguished by a straight edge on oneside parallel with the axis of rotation of the Wheel and an inclinededge on the other side, is a necessary and essential feature of theapparatus. This will appear upon consideration of the character of thesignaling currents required. These currents are alternately positive andnegative, and while their actual or relative durations may vary veryconsiderably it is essential that a fixed relation between the periodsof initial contact be preserved. An inclination of both sides of thecontact-plates might result with a difference in the vertical adjustmentof the bearing-strips in an overlapping of the. signals andshort-circuiting of the strips.

I do not limit myself to the special devices or apparatus which I haveherein shown for carrying out my invention, as the same may be greatlyvaried.

What I claim is 1. In a cable-transmitter, the combination, with a key,of an automatically-actuated con tact-maker locked and released by thesaid key and provided with contact-surfaces adjustable relatively to oneanother, whereby the duration of cont-act for agiven movement may bevaried, as set forth.

2. In a cable-transmitter, the combination, with a locking and releasingkey, of a wheel or carrier carrying contact-plates of varying width, amotor for revolving said carrier when released by the key, and contactstrips adapted to bear on the said plates and adj ustable with respectthereto, whereby the duration of contact for a given movement of thecarrier may be varied, as described.

3. In a cable-transmitter, the combination, with a locking and releasingkey, of a frame or carrier provided with two series of contactplates ofvarying width, a motor for revolvin g said carrier when released by thekey, and positive and negative contact terminals adapted to bear on thetwo series of plates, respectively, and independently adjustable withrespect thereto, whereby the duration of contact for a given movement ofthe said carrier may be varied, as described.

at. In a cable-transmitter, the combination of a revoluble frame orcarrier provided with two lines or series of contact-plates of varyingwidth, a source of power acting constantly on said carrier, a series ofpins or stops constituting an escapement on said carrier, contact-stripsadapted to bear on the series of contacts, respectively, and adjustablewith respect thereto, whereby the width of contact-surface presented tosaid strips may be varied, and a lever or key acting in conjunction withthe escapement to lock or release the carrier, as set forth.

The combination, with a cable or line of high static capacity and atransmitting-battery, of a revoluble frame or carrier provided with twoseries or rows of contact-s of varying width connected to line andalternately disposed, two contact-termin als from the positive andnegative poles of the battery adapted to bear on the rows of contacts,respectively, and adjustable with respect thereto, whereby the width ofcontact-surface presented to said strips may be varied, a motor forrotating the carrier, and a key for locking and releasing it, as hereinset forth.

0. The combination, with a submarine cable and a transmitting-battery,of stationary and moving contacts adapted to connect the opposite polesof the battery alternately to line, means for adjusting the relativewidth or extent of the surfaces in contact and consequently the durationof contact for a given movement of the contacts, and a key orcontrolling device for locking and releasing the moving contactsaccording tothe character of the signals to be transmitted.

7. The combination of the revoluble carrier or wheel, the contact-platesof varying width, the adjustable terminals bearing on the contacts,thetwo rows or series of escapement pins or stops, one row being insulatedfrom the wheel and the contacts, and the locking and releasing leveradapted to be connected to earth and engaging with the teeth of each rowalternately.

8. In a circuit-controlling device, a contact maker revolved by a sourceof power and having angular contacts, one of the sides of such anglesbeingparallel to the axis of revolution, in combination with connectingcontacts adjustable along the line of said angular contacts, as setforth.

9. In a circuit-controlling device, the combination of a movablecircuit-maker having contacts varying in superficial area, one side ofsuch contacts being a right line, and two connecting contacts formingterminals of opposite poles of separate sources of electrical energy,said connecting contacts being independently'adj ustable along the lineof the movable contacts, as described.

10. The combination of a contact-maker revolving at a uniform speed andcarrying angular contact-plates, forming one part of an electriccircuit, of two connecting strips constituting the terminals ofindependent sources of electrical energy of opposite polarity andforming alternately the other part of said circuit and adapted toproduce successive alternations of polarity occupying equal intervals oftime and independently adjustable with respect to said revolvingcontacts, whereby the duration of their respective engagement may bevaried.

CHARLES G. BURKE.

Witnesses:

RoBr'F. GAYLORD, PARKER W. PAGE.

